Mold disk support for typographical machines



April 13, 1937. GOODBQDY 2,077,361

MOLD DISK SUPPORT FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Aug. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR zdm ndmGwd g ATTORNEYS April 1937- E. M. GOODBODY 2,077,361

MOLD DISK SUPPORT FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Aug. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 7 0 Z INVENTOR Edam/ d M Goodbafiz MOQMLM ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFEQE MOLD DISK SUPPORT FOR TYPOGRAPHI- CAL MACHINES Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,542

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in line casting machines, and more especially to those of the general class disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 436,532 granted September 16,

1890 employing a so-called mold disk on which, in modern machines of this class are mounted a plurality of slug casting molds, the mold disk being rotatable and so mounted that any one of the molds thereon may be brought into oper- 10 ative position by manually turning a pinion geared to the rim of the disk, the pinion being also mechanically rotated by the mechanism of the machine as the latter operates to bring the selected mold to a casting position where the front of the mold locks up against a line of character bearing matrices and the back of the mold is engaged by the mouth of a metal pot which injects metal into the mold for casting slugs therein, the selected mold on the disk being subsequently brought to an ejecting position where an ejecting blade is advanced through the casting cavity in the mold to eject the cast slug therefrom.

Ordinarily, the mold disk, in machines of this class, is rotatably supported on an arm which extends laterally or at approximately right angles from the forward end of a slide, and in order to assist in supporting the weight of the disk, the disk supporting arm is provided at its free end and beyond the mold disk bearing thereon with a block which rests slidably on a short ledge on the machine frame. The slide carrying the mold disk, as usual in machines of this class, receives short reciprocating movements periodically to move the selected mold on the disk to and from casting and ejecting positions, and the slide may also be drawn forwardly by hand a considerable distance, by lowering the usual vise frame which normally stands in front of the mold disk and disconnecting the slide from its usual actuating means, in order to give access to the mouth of the metal pot and the back of the disk when necessary for cleaning, inspection or repairs. In machines of this class as heretofore constructed, when the mold disk is thus drawn forwardly, its toothed rim becomes disengaged from the turning pinion and furthermore, the block which assists in sustaining the weight of the disk at the free end of its supporting arm on the slide disengages from the short ledge on the machine on which it normally rests. The disengagement of these parts brings about several objectionable conditions.

The heavy structure comprising the mold disk and the slide, when these parts are drawn for- 55 wardly, hangs in such an unbalanced condition in the gibs in which the slide is mounted .that the slide binds in the gibs and requires great effort to move it manually. Also, due to the freedom of the mold disk to rotate when disengaged from its pinion, as occurs when the disk and slide are drawn forwardly from the normal operative position, the attendant must bring the teeth on the mold disk into mesh with those on the turning pinion at a predetermined location indicated by suitable markings on the disk and pinion when the disk is returned to its normal operative position, and if the teeth on the disk and pinion are not properly reengaged, the selected mold on the disk will not be properly positioned to cooperate with the casting and ejecting mechanisms of the machine when the latter is operated.

The primary object of the present invention is to overcome these and other difficulties and objections, it providing novel supporting means for effectively sustaining the weight of the disk and slide and thus prevent sagging and binding thereof when drawn forwardly, and novel guiding means for facilitating reengagement of the teeth on the disk with those on the pinion upon return of the mold disk to its normal working position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a ledge is provided which extends forwardly from the machine frame to receive and support the weight sustaining block on the free end of the disk supporting arm whenever the disk is drawn forwardly by hand, and in conjunction therewith, a guide rail adapted to cooperate with teeth on. the periphery of the disk just prior to disengagement of the teeth on the disk from those on the pinion as the disk is drawn forwardly. By this arrangement, the heavy disk and the slide which carries it can be slid forwardly from and returned to its normal working position, with minimum effort, and the disk itself, which heretofore has been free to rotate while disengaged from its pinion, is prevented from rotation by such guide rail, so that upon return of the disk to normal position the teeth on the disk and the pinion will be properly reengaged automatically, disturbing of the proper timed relation of the disk with the cooperating parts of the machine being thus avoided.

The preferred embodiment of'the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail, but it is to be understood that equivalent constructions are contemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a line casting machine of the general class hereinbefore referred to, having the present invention applied thereto, the relation of the mold disk to the metal pot behind it and the vise frame and vise in front of it being shown;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the upper portion of the vise frame and vise removed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, showing the vise frame in its lowered position and the mold disk and slide in forwardly withdrawn position;

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 44 in Fig. 1; and

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different figures.

Referring to the drawings, the mold disk I as shown in the present instance, carries four slug casting molds 2 arranged symmetrically on its front face, and the periphery of the disk is provided with gear teeth 3 which engage gear teeth i on a pinion 5. The pinion 5 may be turned by a knob or handle 6 to rotate the disk to bring one or another of the molds thereon into operative position, and also, at suitable intervals, the driving mechanism commonly used in machines of this class and not shown, rot-ates the pinion to turn the mold disk first through a one-quarter revolution to bring the selected mold thereon from a vertical position at the right hand side in Fig. 2 to the top horizontal position shown in that figure and which represents the casting position, and after the cast has been made, the pinion rotates to turn the mold disk through three-quarters of a revolution to bring the selected mold from the upper horizontal casting position anti-clockwise to the normal vertical position at the right hand side of the mold disk in Fig. 2, and while the selected mold is in that position, an ejector blade, which may be mounted and operated as usual in machines of this class, operates to push the cast slug forwardly out of the mold. The mold disk I is supported in a bearing 1 in an arm 8 which extends laterally or at approximately right angles from the forward end of the so-called mold slide 9, the latter having bevelled edges 10 along the top and bo-t tom thereof for supporting and slidably guiding it in corresponding dove-tailed guides ll formed in a portion H. of the main frame of the machine.

The mold disk, while in its normal working position in the machine, is associated with a metal pot l3 the mouthpiece [4 of which, at the proper time, engages the rear face of the selected mold in use when the latter is in casting position, and

the mold disk also cooperates with a vise which comprises jaws l5 mounted in the upper portion of the vise frame Hi, the vise jaws receiving a line of character bearing matrices and supporting them for engagement by the front face of the selected mold, the mold being advanced against the casting edges of the line of matrices between the vise jaws by a short forward movement imparted to the mold disk. The vise frame I6, as

. usual, is pivoted at l6 to the main frame of the machine so that it may occupy a normal operative position as shown in Fig. 1 or it may be swung forwardly as shown in Fig. 3.

Since the means for rotating the mold disk and or periodically advancing and retracting it while the selected mold in use is in casting and ejecting positions are well known in the art and may be such as those commonly used in machines of this class, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The present invention is intended primarily to provide means for supporting the weight of the mold disk and slide to prevent sagging and binding thereof when drawn forwardly from the normal working position thereof, and means for guiding the disk into and out of mesh with its driving pinion. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, an alinement and weight sustaining block l! is secured to the outer or free end of the disk supporting arm 8. Heretofore, such a block has been employed for supporting the heavy structure comprising the mold disk and slide against sagging while the disk occupies its normal working position as shown in Fig. 1, its underside resting on a short ledge extending under the block from an arm IS on the machine frame, but when the disk, according to that arrangement, was pulled forwardly by hand, the block ll passed forwardly off its seat on the short ledge at about the same time that the teeth on the disk disengaged the teeth on the pinion, and during the further forward movement of the disk, the weight of the disk and slide was sustained entirely by the dove-tailed guides of the mold slide. In consequence of the unbalanced condition thus brought about, the mold disk and slide structure could be advanced further forwardly only with great effort, and since the mold disk would be free to turn in its bearing, the diflicuity of grasping and holding it was increased.

According to the present invention, instead of employing a short ledge as heretofore for sustaining the weight of the disk and slide only while in their normal working position, a ledge 20 is provided, it being fixed to and projecting forwardly from the arm l9 of the machine frame and being capable of supporting the block I! throughout the full range of forward movement of the disk ordinarily necessary for purposes of cleaning and inspection. The upper face H! of this ledge extends in parallelism with the direc tion of movement of the slide 8 in its guides, and the lower edge of the block I! rests thereon, and as will be seen from Figs. 3 and 5, the block I! will support the weight of the disk and slide when drawn forwardly, by slidable contact of the underside of the block H with the upper face 18 on the ledge 20.

The present invention provides means for guiding the teeth on the periphery of the mold disk into mesh with those on the pinion when the disk is returned to its normal working position and also for preventing rotation of the disk while disengaged from the pinion thus enabling the disk to be grasped firmly while manually withdrawing it from its normal working position and returning it thereto. Preferably and as shown in the present instance, such means comprises a guide rail '21 which may be fixed to or formed as a part of the ledge 29, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5, this guide rail being shaped to fit between two adjacent teeth 3 on the periphery of the mold disk and being of such extent and in such location along the length of the ledge 2.0 as to enter between a pair of the teeth on the mold disk and aline therewith, immediately before the teeth on the disk, when the disk is pulled forwardly by hand, disengage from the teeth 4 on the pinion, and the rail 2i will remain in such engagement with the teeth on the mold disk preferably while the latter is fully withdrawn from its normal working position, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be clear from the foregoing, that when the mold disk occupies its normal working position in the machine for the slug casting and ejecting operations, and during the intervals between these operations, the weight of the disk and slide will be sustained by the block I! resting on the ledge 20, and the disk will be free for rotation by the pinion 5, either by manipulation of the hand turning knob 6 thereon or through the mechanical actuation thereof by the usual mold turning mechanism of the machine. When the mold disk and slide are pulled forwardly by hand to afford access to the mouth of the metal pot behind it or the back of the disk, the forwardly extending ledge 20 will continue to sustain the weight of the disk and slide structure throughout the forward movement thereof and while this structure remains in the forwardly withdrawn position, thus enabling this heavy structure to be moved forwardly and rearwardly without binding or saging and consequently with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator. The additional provision of means such as the guide rail 2! to prevent rotation of the mold disk when drawn out of mesh with the pinion 5 facilitates both the handling of the disk when grasped to move it and the reengagement of its teeth with those on the pinion at the proper point when the disk is returned to normal position. Preferably and as shown in Fig. 2, punch marks 22 are provided on the mold disk and pinion, as heretofore, to indicate the point at which these parts must be brought into engagement in order that they may have the proper timed relation during the operation of the machine.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a slug casting machine having a frame, casting means thereon, a mold disk, and a slide mounted to support the mold disk in cooperative relation with said casting means and extensible for withdrawal of the mold disk from the casting means, auxiliary means on said frame for supporting said slide while extended.

2. In a slug casting machine having casting means, a mold disk, and a slide having a laterally extending arm supporting the mold disk, said slide being supported at one side of the center of the mold disk for reciprocation to carry the mold disk into cooperative relation with the casting means and into an extended relation thereto, means cooperative with said slide at the other side of the center of the mold disk for supporting it while in extended relation.

3. In a slug casting machine having casting means, a mold disk, and a slide having a laterally extending arm supporting the mold disk, said slide being supported at one side of the center of the mold disk for reciprocation to carry the mold disk into cooperative relation with the casting means and into an extended relation thereto, means cooperative with said slide at the other side of the center of the mold disk for supporting the mold disk while it is in cooperative relation with the casting means and also while in extended relation with respect thereto.

4. In a slug casting machine having a frame supporting casting means, a mold disk, a slide having a laterally extending arm supporting the mold disk, means on the frame supporting said slide at one side of the center of the mold disk for reciprocation to support the mold disk in cooperative relation with the casting means and for withdrawal therefrom, means on the frame at the other side of the center of the mold disk and cooperative with the slide for supporting the latter while the mold disk is in cooperative relation with the casting means and also while withdrawn therefrom.

5. In a slug casting machine having casting means thereon, a rotatable mold disk to cooperate therewith, means to cooperate with the mold disk to rotate it, and means supporting the mold disk for movement to and from cooperative relation with the casting means and said rotating means, means cooperative with the mold disk, while out of cooperative relation with said rotating means, to prevent rotation of the mold disk and inoperative with respect to the mold disk while the latter is in cooperative relation with the rotating means, to permit rotation of the mold disk.

6. In a slug casting machine having casting means thereon, a rotatable mold disk having gear teeth thereon, a pinion cooperative with the teeth on the mold disk for rotating it, and a slide supporting the mold disk and reciprocable tocarry it into and out of cooperative relation with the casting means and pinion, means cooperative with teeth on the mold disk, while out of cooperative relation with the pinion, for preventing rotation of the mold disk.

7. In a slug casting machine having a frame supporting casting means thereon, a rotatable mold disk to cooperate therewith, means for rotating the mold disk, a slide mounted in the frame and supporting the mold disk for movement to and from cooperative relation with the casting and rotating means, and a member on the frame for supporting the slide while the mold disk is removed from cooperative relation with the casting means and having a portion thereon cooperative with the mold disk, while the latter is removed from cooperative relation with the casting means, to prevent rotation of the mold disk.

8. In a slug casting machine having a frame supporting casting means, a rotatable peripherally-toothed mold disk to cooperate therewith, a pinion on the frame for rotating the mold disk, a slide supported at one side of the center of the mold disk and supporting the mold disk for movement into operative and withdrawn positions with respect to the casting means and pinion, a ledge on the frame at the other side of the center of the mold disk and cooperative with the mold disk while in operative and withdrawn positions to support it, said ledge having a guide rail thereon cooperative with the toothed periphery of the mold disk, while the latter is in withdrawn position, to prevent rotation thereof.

EDMUND M. GOODBODY. 

